Martina McBride Kisses SeaWorld Goodbye, Cancels Park Show

By Amanda Just | December 14, 2013

Like us on Facebook:

The current article you are reading does not reflect the views of the current editors and contributors of the new Ecorazzi

Odds are not looking good for SeaWorld’s Bands, Brew & BBQ event. Seven bands have backed out and only three are remaining. For those of you keeping track, we kicked off the weekend by announcing band 6 (REO Speedwagon), and today, country singer Martina McBrideannounced on Facebook that she has cancelled her show at the marine park, making her #7.

“I’ve decided that given all the issues that have been aired recently, the time isn’t right for me to play at Seaworld. I have cancelled my scheduled performance at the Bands, [Brew] & BBQ event in March 2014.”

At the time of this writing, her post has nearly 3,000 “likes” and over 300 “shares,” all within an hour or so of her posting it. While some of the comments on the post are grumbling that McBride is cancelling because of “some one-sided movie,” the majority of the comments are overwhelmingly positive. Some of the more enthusiastic comments read:

“Thank you, Martina McBride! We know that you have wonderful talent, and now…we see your beautiful compassion for captive animals.”

“Thank you so much, Martina! No matter how many people may get their panties in a wad about it…you’re doing the right thing and that’s a very brave choice. I knew I always loved and respected you as an artist. You have a beautiful voice and compassion in your heart. Thank you.”

“Good! Activist or not, I think as a civilized person you can’t support what that place does to animals.”

As a refresher, the following musical acts have cancelled their appearances at SeaWorld’s music fest: Barenaked Ladies, Willie Nelson, Heart, Cheap Trick, Trisha Yearwood, REO Speedwagon, and now, Martina McBride. Who will be next?

Let’s be clear about SeaWorld and their ilk. They are a sideshow. A modern freak show. When I was a kid I would go to the midway at the traveling circus and they had midgets and two headed people you could pay to look at. This is no different. It’s looking at big animals that they train to shake hands with or kiss. At the end of the day they put their slave animals back into their little cages until the next show. It’s degrading and irrelevant bullshit that has nothing to do with the lives of these mammals in the wild. You learn nothing from the experience, you are fleeced of your hard earned money and you perpetuate an industry that tortures these animals. Save your money, go out on a whale watching boat, have an experience with an educated whale biologist and see the wild mammals in their natural environment. You will actually learn something worth knowing.

When we reject human injustice, nobody needs to go on a “journey” to get to that point. Where animals are concerned, we’re all too eager to pack the car, don the sunglasses and go for ride before we see the truth of what has been in front of us the entire time.